A primary school built in 2016 is facing a full roof replacement after years of leaks and structural deterioration — but Pembrokeshire County Council is refusing to disclose how much the work will cost taxpayers.

A NEWLY built Pembrokeshire school is facing a full roof replacement less than a decade after opening, with Pembrokeshire County Council refusing to disclose how much the work will cost the public.

Tenby Church in Wales VC School, a 3–11 English-medium primary school with an additional Learning Resource Centre provision, was completed in 2016. However, just a few years later, reports of water ingress began to emerge, with the situation worsening to the point where more than 500 temporary supports are now holding up parts of the roof.

The council has confirmed that it holds multiple condition and engineering reports relating to the roof dating back to January 2020, and that the issue has been discussed at Cabinet level on more than one occasion.

However, in a response to a Freedom of Information request, Pembrokeshire County Council has refused to disclose the total estimated cost of repairs, temporary works, or a planned full roof replacement, citing commercial sensitivity.

The council has also declined to release any correspondence between itself, the Welsh Government and the school’s governing body relating to warranties, insurance claims, or liability for the roof defects, again relying on exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Herald received the FOI response on Friday, January 9, 2026. In it, the council confirmed that while reports and assessments exist — and have been presented to Cabinet — key financial and contractual details are being withheld from public view.

The Herald previously reported in November that Cabinet members approved a £75,000 feasibility budget to explore options for tackling the ongoing roof leaks, including the possibility of a complete roof replacement. At that time, councillors were told that repeated water ingress had resulted in a weakening of the structure and components within the roof construction.

As part of urgent health and safety measures, the council installed 510 ‘acro’ props to support vulnerable roof areas and fully closed the Early Years and Playgroup wing. In 2024, the school’s solar photovoltaic array was also removed on engineer advice to reduce loading on the roof.

A Cabinet report stated that the favoured option is the replacement of the entire roof, a course of action that would require a comprehensive decant strategy to relocate pupils while works are carried out.

Presenting the findings of the feasibility study, the Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, telling members that the wellbeing of learners and staff was the council’s priority and that efforts would be made to move forward as quickly as possible.

Despite those assurances, the council has not confirmed whether it expects to recover costs through warranties, insurance, or third-party liability, or whether the financial burden could ultimately fall on the public purse.

In its FOI response, the authority said releasing cost information or correspondence could prejudice commercial interests and negatively affect negotiations with contractors or other third parties. It concluded that there was a greater public interest in withholding the information than in disclosure.

The decision is likely to fuel anger among parents and residents, with many questioning how a school building less than ten years old has deteriorated to the point of requiring hundreds of emergency supports and a potential full roof replacement — and why the true cost of that failure is being kept from public view.

Pembrokeshire County Council has not said when, or if, the total cost of the works will be made public.

A CALL for potentially life-saving EpiPens to become a part of school equipment in Pembrokeshire will be considered by senior councillors in 2026.

In a notice of motion heard at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy asked the council adopt a policy for Epi-pens to become part of school first aid equipment.

Emergency adrenaline auto-injectors, commonly known as EpiPens, are commonly used in the emergency treatment of Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.

Cllr Murphy, in his notice of motion, asked that “Pembrokeshire County Council work with all schools to develop a policy where all schools hold epi-pens as part of their first aid equipment”.

It added: “PCC can negotiate on behalf of our schools with the suppliers of such equipment to achieve best value through bulk purchasing. The immediate availability of epi-pens in an emergency involving a pupil on school premises has the potential reduce the risk of a tragic outcome.

“As some background in relation to this NoM is that the April 2025 meeting of the Schools O&S Committee debated the subject of epi-pens.

“The current policy from Welsh Government states that it’s a matter for individual School Governing bodies to decide whether to stock epi-pens for use in an emergency should a pupil suffer anaphylactic shock, and should they wish to purchase epi-pens then each school does this on an individual basis.

“The Schools O&S Committee in April 2025 resolved to write to Welsh Government (WG) to highlight the epi-pens issue, which the Chair of the Schools O&S did. Since April 2025 the Schools O&S Committee have received no update from WG and a period of nearly eight months has elapsed.

“The safety and well-being of pupils is a matter of priority and in view of the lack of response (I would argue lamentably so) from WG I feel PCC should proceed to develop our own policy to ensure that every LA school in Pembrokeshire hold epi-pens for use in an emergency, hence this NoM.”

Members agreed Cllr Murphy’s notice be sent to the council’s Cabinet, whose next meeting takes place in 2026, for further consideration.

PRIMARY schools across Wales are set to benefit from an estimated £8 million investment over the next two years after the Welsh Government confirmed an increase in the amount spent on each free school meal.

The funding boost will see the unit rate for Universal Primary Free School Meals rise from £3.20 to £3.40 per meal, an increase of 20p.

Since the scheme was launched in 2022, more than 57 million free meals have been served to primary school pupils across Wales.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said the increase means Wales now provides the highest per-meal funding rate for primary school meals anywhere in the UK, supporting schools and local authority catering teams to continue delivering nutritious food.

Wales also remains the only UK nation to offer Universal Primary Free School Meals to all primary school learners.

The scheme forms part of the Welsh Government’s wider efforts to support families with the cost of living and tackle child poverty. Parents are also being encouraged to check whether they are eligible for further assistance through the “Get help with school costs” service, including the School Essentials Grant, which helps with uniforms and classroom items. Schools also receive additional support through the Pupil Development Grant for eligible learners.

Lynne Neagle said:
“Universal Primary Free School Meals, alongside our targeted free meal offer in secondary schools, means that two-thirds of learners in Wales can access a free school meal at lunchtime every day.

“We recognise that costs are rising, and it is vital that local authorities are properly supported to deliver high-quality meals.

“Ending child poverty remains an absolute priority for the Welsh Government, and our commitment to Universal Primary Free School Meals shows how serious we are about giving every child the best possible start in life.”